The 56th NHRA Winternationals At Pomona Is Here, Let The Season Begin!


The 56th NHRA Winternationals At Pomona Is Here, Let The Season Begin!

Photos by Jeff Brughardt and Mike Burghardt

 

Lights, action and camera… the 2016 NHRA Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona is upon us.

 

One of the most talked about developments on the NHRA 2.0 docket is the sanctioning body taking TV production in-house for the first time, under new NHRA President Peter Clifford. Lot’s of wondering about the new TV show from owners, drivers and some fans as to what will make it to the new FOX Sports 1 broadcast.

Tony SchumacherTF #1 Qual x MIKE0831 copy

While the race teams were wiping off the cobwebs of the winter, Friday qualifying wasn’t nearly as stellar as the hotly contested nitro racing of the season-ending World Finals last year.

After two fuel sessions, Eight-time world champion Schumacher was quickest in Top Fuel with a 3.722 second run at 323.66 mph in his U.S. Army dragster followed by a resurgent Clay Millican in his Parts Plus dragster at 3.746 ET in second and Richie Crampton in the Lucas Oil Top Fueler at 3.748 ET in third.

 

At the end of Saturday in Top Fuel qualifying, Steve Torrence nailed his sixth career No. 1 qualifying position and his first ever at the Pomona Fairplex track, clocking an awesome 3.703 at 328.06 in his Capco Contractors dragster. On Sunday Torrence opened eliminations against #16 qualifier Steve Faria.

TF Steve Torrence x MIKE0225

“We weren’t holding anything back,” Torrence said. “The conditions were the best we’ve seen this weekend so we said why not go for it. We’ve got a really good hot rod right now and I just want to do my job and hopefully we can walk away from here tomorrow with one of those little gold men.”

 

With noted nitro tuning specialist Alan Johnson on board as a consultant, Torrence had one of the quickest and fastest cars during the Phoenix Winter Warm-ups last week.

 

In nitro funny car, Jack Beckman picked up right where he left off last season by nailing the No. 1 qualifying position in on the last pass Saturday evening at the Winternationals.  Ron Capps, driving his DSR Dodge Charger qualified second with a strong 3.902 ET at 324.51 mph.

FC Ron Capps JEFF 0124

Beckman, who failed to qualify at this event one year ago but then rallied to post seven wins and set the national record four times en route to challenging for the Funny Car world championship, continued to prove he has the quickest Funny Car in the pits. In the final qualifying pair he clocked a 3.888-second run at 326.16 mph to take his first No. 1 at the Winternationals and 16th of his career. He will open eliminations against John Hale.

 

“As a hometown (SoCal) guy it’s tough to come out to the first race of the year because there’s a little extra pressure to do well and some stress if you don’t, but we are beyond that,” Beckman said. “It’s clear that [crew chiefs] Jimmy (Prock), John (Medlen) and Chris (Cunningham) are getting a handle on this car. When you see them getting that close you know great things are in store for this team.”

 

Beckman finished second to 2015 funny car world champion Del Worsham last season when Worsham’s Kalitta Racing DHL Toyota team hit a hot streak in the playoffs and won four of the six Countdown events. However, the competition and performance in Funny Car has been elevated largely due to the strides first made by Beckman in his Prock-tuned machine.

PS Greg Anderson JEFF0340 copy

In the Pro Stock class, Greg Anderson earned his 81st career No. 1 qualifying effort with a performance of 6.585 at 209.62 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro, the first event for these teams utilizing the new Holley EFI System.  It was actually 1-2-3 for KB Racing as teammate Jason Line qualified second with a 6.592 at 210.14 in his Camaro and Friday’s top qualifier, Bo Butner, starts third in his Camaro after running a 6.594 at 209.30.

PS Bo Buntner JEFF0982 copy

“When you come to the Winternationals you are scared to death about the competition,” Anderson said. “This year with all the changes we were incredibly scared not knowing where everybody was. It’s been a learning curve for everyone and a steep one. To be where we are at right now versus the first time we put an engine on the dyno, we’ve come a long way. Feel fantastic. I knew when we changed the rules and I might’ve shed a tear or two. Right now I am able to forget about it and move on and embrace the challenge and learn to like EFI. I hate to say it, but I am learning to like it.”

 

Anderson, who won four world championship titles in the old Pro Stock configuration, says he’s looking forward to becoming the first to win under the new rules format for the factory hot rods, which features Holley Electronic Fuel Injection, 10,500 RPM rev limiters, no hood scoops and shortened wheelie bars.

 

Qualifying coverage for the 56th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, the first of 24 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events this season, will be broadcast by new television partner FOX Sports, the eliminations broadcast is scheduled for Sunday, February 14 at 5 p.m. ET on FS1 (FOX Sports 1).

 

At the end of four rounds of NHRA Professional qualifying, here are the ET’s and pairings:

Top Fuel — 1. Steve Torrence, 3.703 seconds, 328.06 mph  vs. 16. Steve Faria, 5.135, 123.88; 2. Doug Kalitta, 3.713, 324.51  vs. 15. Scott Palmer, 4.089, 251.44; 3. Tony Schumacher, 3.722, 325.22 vs. 14. Terry McMillen, 3.844, 313.00; 4. Richie Crampton, 3.727, 323.66  vs. 13. Troy Buff, 3.843, 315.64; 5. Clay Millican, 3.727, 324.36  vs. 12. Leah Pritchett, 3.804, 314.46; 6. Brittany Force, 3.744, 320.66  vs. 11. J.R. Todd, 3.792, 320.28; 7. Antron Brown, 3.754, 322.73  vs. 10. Shawn Langdon, 3.764, 320.97; 8. Dave Connolly, 3.757, 326.40  vs. 9. Morgan Lucas, 3.759, 324.20.

FC John Hale (Moon Eyes) x MIKE0655

Funny Car — 1. Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 3.888, 326.16  vs. 16. John Hale (above), Charger, 4.329, 263.51; 2. Ron Capps, Charger, 3.902, 324.51  vs. 15. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Solara, 4.285, 278.69; 3. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.913, 322.19  vs. 14. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 4.256, 225.22; 4. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota Camry, 3.942, 324.59  vs. 13. James Campbell, Charger, 4.163, 302.41; 5. Del Worsham, Camry, 3.943, 323.04  vs. 12. Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 4.124, 281.07; 6. Courtney Force, Camaro, 3.945, 326.87  vs. 11. Gary Densham, Charger, 4.050, 307.79; 7. Chad Head, Camry, 3.950, 319.29  vs. 10. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.993, 323.35; 8. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.962, 320.28 vs. 9. John Force, Camaro, 3.964, 322.34.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Bob Bode, 4.356, 283.37; 18. Terry Haddock, 4.571, 194.97.

 

Pro Stock — 1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.585, 209.62  vs. 16. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.746, 206.61; 2. Jason Line, Camaro, 6.592, 210.34  vs. 15. V. Gaines, Dodge Dart, 6.715, 207.37; 3. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.594, 210.14  vs. 14. Deric Kramer, Dart, 6.686, 207.75; 4. Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.616, 209.20  vs. 13. Joey Grose, Camaro, 6.674, 207.94; 5. Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.623, 208.49 vs. 12. Aaron Strong, Camaro, 6.665, 208.26; 6. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.632, 209.52  vs. 11. Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.660, 208.81; 7. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.634, 208.07  vs. 10. Allen Johnson, Dart, 6.653, 208.33; 8. Jeg Coughlin, Dart, 6.645, 208.55  vs. 9. Erica Enders, Dart, 6.651, 208.62.


  • Share This
  • Pinterest
  • 0

11 thoughts on “The 56th NHRA Winternationals At Pomona Is Here, Let The Season Begin!

  1. whitecamaro

    I’ve been a fan of NHRA DRAG RACING for 40 years.And then this Brian France wannabe Peter breath Clifford comes along and gets greedy by putting NHRA DRAG RACING on a extra pay channel.Iam already paying for satellite service now I’ve got to pay for the fox1 sports channel to watch DRAG racing.No thanks because he’s already screwing up everything changing pro stock what’s next.
    F Peter breath Clifford and his high dollar NHRA crap so long after 40 years.

  2. Mr.Blue

    FOX coverage sucks………………pedregon sucked………….i watched and it was painful……….this is a step-up form ESPN? whatever………………….

  3. parts

    Coverage was very disappointing. They got rid of the wrong half of the announcing duo. Lets see more racing and less bullshit

  4. Bob G

    I had high hopes for the new FS1 coverage but it overall it was bad! It was like watching highlight reels with T Pedregon yammering monotone nonsense. I’m not sure he’s going to be any better at announcing that he was at driving. Didn’t know what he talking about half the time. Where was the reaction times?? All in all it was just weird. I miss Mike Dunn.

    1. Bob G

      Oh, forgot to mention how great it was to see Torrence, Capps, Anderson win! Especially Ron Capps lets hope this is his year.

  5. Piston Pete

    I thought it was just ok for the first broadcast. Obviously they need to work on time and reaction time display, but I’m sure the producers know that and will have it sorted out by Phoenix.
    There wasn’t as much “talking down” to newer fans as I expected although I doubt there were many new fans watching.
    As to Tony vs Mike, I think booting Dunn was a mistake (but who knows the real circumstances?) that could come back to bite NHRA if the new Dunn/IHRA deal does, as I expect, produce a show (real time live, be there, I’m not talking TV yet) that could put a dent in NHRA’s attendance at the major events. Did you notice that the stands were less than packed even during the nitro finals? Seems like it should be SRO for the Winter’s. Is SoCal in a recession or have folks just quit caring?
    The show came on on time and ran the time allotted so that’s an improvement and a next day am rebroadcast is a plus.
    I’m not that wild on the idea of NHRA producing the shows, seems like reading National Dragster on TV. I really need to have more journalistic integrity in a sports broadcast than we are likely to see coming from these new FS1 shows. I know it’s presented as entertainment but to me, as ate up with this shit as I am, it’s news and I’d like to have it presented objectively, not masked by whatever corporate mumbo jumbo NHRA tries to pass off as drag racing news. Screw it, I’ve gone past the point of overthinking it again. It’s only because I care very deeply about the state of affairs in professional nitro racing.
    The shows will get better,Tony might get better if they just let him talk, remember, he knows where almost as many of the bodies are buried as Dunn.
    In any event, I’ll watch all the shows and in person attend the Gators, Southerns, U.S.Nationals and Gateway. I’m too old, dumb and set in my ways not to.

  6. Piston Pete

    And . . . they should cut out the bullshit prior to the Pro finals and show the Sportsman finals like ASC used to. Those are some ancient, trendsetting broadcasts and using them as a template might lighten up the environment a little. If I think of anything else I’ll chime right in, it’s a slow day here in the Indy ghetto.

  7. Don

    Pathetic! I’ve never seen a broadcast so messed up like this one in my life. Been a fan and been following drag racing for over 50 years. Where do I start?

    First and foremost. If that was LIVE I’ll eat my hat. No way can those cars stage, do burnouts, lineup, crew chief tweak and race in that short of time. It was literally non stop runs. As fast as a pair hit the lights another pair took off.

    Would have been nice had you left the stats on the screen after a run for more than 3 seconds. Flashed so fast you could barely read the info. Perhaps you want to teach us SPEED READING as well as inform us who won. By the way, that’s another thing that was off again on again in no particular order. THE WINNER LIGHT. If you didn’t hear Dave Reiff announce who won, you were at a loss. Duh!

    What happened to the burnouts, the prep at line, the edge to the lights? All the excitement, the anticipation of the launch. Oh, that’s right, we need time to tell everyone what size, weight, etc., and how the WALLY is made.

    How about interviews with drivers at the top end right after jumping out of the car. When the race is just over, to hear the exiliration of the win. Perhaps show the LADDER as the races progress through the rounds, and discuss the situation with some insight.

    That brings me to Tony Pedregon. Maybe he doesn’t have that ability, did a lot of talking, but didn’t say much. Mike Dunn knew things backward and forward. You should hire him. Oh! That’s right, you dumped him for Tony P.

    If this is how Mr. Clifford thinks he going to rejuvenate drag racing and bring new people into the seats and TV audience, he better wake up.This was pathetic. ESPN’s telecast blew this mess out of the water!!

    I love drag racing, and I want to see it survive. This screwed up show won’t help. Can’t wait to see if you fix things by Phoenix. Better get busy, this needs a ravamp top to bottom.

    To start the new season this way is an F+.

Comments are closed.